The Dublin summit of the European Political Community is regarded as one of the key platforms for Azerbaijan’s relations and cooperation with European countries and their future prospects. Within the framework of the summit, political dialogue, partnership in the energy and transport sectors, and the discussion of regional peace initiatives are expected. Also noteworthy is the recent growth of European countries’ interest in Azerbaijan, the visits of heads of state and government, as well as senior representatives of the European Union, to our country and their contacts with President Ilham Aliyev.
What new opportunities can the Dublin summit of the European Political Community open up for Azerbaijan’s political and economic relations with European countries? Do the visits of European leaders to Azerbaijan and their intensive contacts with President Ilham Aliyev give grounds to say that a new political stage is taking shape in relations? What factors can be used to explain the recent growth of European countries’ interest in Azerbaijan?
Speaking to Globalinfo.az, MP Bahruz Maharramov said that the Dublin summit of the European Political Community serves as a platform of equal political and diplomatic rights between the European Union and states that are not members of unified integration blocs in the European space but play a decisive role in the continent’s security and economic architecture:
“President Ilham Aliyev’s meetings in Dublin, as well as his participation in the round table held within the summit on the theme ‘Building a Competitive Europe – Innovation, Connectivity and Affordable Energy’ and the views he expressed there, show that Azerbaijan’s relations with Europe have moved beyond the framework of bilateral supply contracts onto the plane of pan-European strategic partnership. The Dublin platform gives Azerbaijan the opportunity to convey its energy and transport agenda directly to Europe’s top political leadership and to secure the financial and legal-institutional support needed for the expansion of the Southern Gas Corridor. At the same time, the multilateral and bilateral contacts formed here strengthen the international legitimacy of Baku’s regional peace agenda and turn Azerbaijan into an indispensable transit and logistics hub between the European and Asian corridors.
The recent intensification of visits to Baku by European leaders and senior EU officials, as well as the intensive political dialogue conducted with President Ilham Aliyev, confirm that a qualitatively new political stage is taking shape in relations. Whereas in previous years Europe’s approach to the South Caucasus was characterized more by classic Eastern Partnership mechanisms and vague political conditions, at the current stage relations are built on pragmatism, the reconciliation of mutual interests and the principles of realpolitik. The Memorandum of Understanding on a strategic partnership in the energy sector signed in 2022 not only constitutes the legal and regulatory basis of these relations but has also paved the way for the institutionalization of political trust between the parties. The increase of gas supplies from 8 billion cubic metres to 13 billion cubic metres and the fact that this process covers 10 EU countries demonstrate that political statements are already being reinforced by real economic and legal commitments.”
Bahruz Maharramov
The MP noted that the growing interest of European countries in Azerbaijan can be attributed to several fundamental geopolitical and economic factors:
“First of all, against the backdrop of the structural crisis that has emerged in global energy markets and the disruption of traditional supply chains, Europe has developed an acute need to diversify its energy sources. Azerbaijan’s bringing new gas fields into operation, raising the transmission capacity of the TAP pipeline to 11.2 billion cubic metres and the steps it has taken towards ‘green energy’ corridors have turned our country into one of the main guarantors of Europe’s energy security. Another important factor is the growing strategic importance of the Middle Corridor. The fact that the shortest and safest land route between Europe and Asia passes through Azerbaijani territory is of vital importance for the resilience of the continent’s supply chains. At the same time, the new geopolitical reality Azerbaijan has created in the region by fully restoring its sovereignty and territorial integrity is among the main factors prompting European capitals to establish direct and equal dialogue with Baku.”
According to the MP, these achievements are the direct logical result of President Ilham Aliyev’s long-term, multi-vector foreign policy course and strategic foresight:
“The main success of the strategy implemented by the head of state is that it has raised Azerbaijan from a regional energy supplier to the level of a system-forming actor in pan-European energy and transport security. Despite the hesitations that existed in certain circles just a few years ago over the economic efficiency and geopolitical necessity of the Southern Gas Corridor, President Ilham Aliyev’s political will and his timely and precise construction of the project’s legal and financial mechanisms have today turned Baku into an indispensable partner on the continent’s energy map. In the context of growing polarization and geopolitical turbulence in the system of international relations, Ilham Aliyev’s individual qualities as a statesman and his capacity for diplomatic manoeuvre play a decisive role. Proceeding from the principle of sovereign equality and the unconditional protection of national interests, the President has shaped the image of a leader who does not bow to outside pressure but is always open to constructive dialogue. It is precisely as a result of this resolute and principled stance that, in the bilateral meetings held within the framework of the Dublin summit with António Costa, President of the European Council, as well as with the leaders of the United Kingdom, Greece, the Czech Republic, Romania, Lithuania and Ukraine, Azerbaijan is accepted as a partner that keeps its word and is predictable. The fact that Azerbaijan did not join certain documents at the summit that would have created additional legal and political obligations, and focused precisely on mutual trust and concrete economic and energy projects, is a clear example of the sovereign independent decision-making will of the head of state and of his political realism.
Another important feature characterizing President Ilham Aliyev’s leadership style is his sense of historical timing and strategic consistency. While managing the export of traditional hydrocarbon resources with maximum efficiency, he also assesses global green transition trends in a timely manner and is integrating the country’s renewable energy potential into Europe’s future energy architecture. In this sense, as was once again observed at the summit, the growing attention of European leaders to Baku is directly linked not only to Azerbaijan’s geographical position and natural resources, but also to the strong political will, stable state governance and the guarantee that all commitments given are fulfilled on time, embodied in the person of President Ilham Aliyev.”
Safura Bannayeva
Globalinfo.az
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